All you need to know about the International Cup

Academy

4 hours ago

Crystal Palace Under-21s face Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, RSC Anderlecht and FC Porto in this season’s Premier League International Cup – here’s everything you need to know about the Young Eagles’ opponents and the competition.

The Premier League International Cup

Fancy a taste of European football without leaving England? The Premier League International Cup is back!

The competition pits the top 16 sides from last season’s Premier League 2 against 16 invited clubs from across Europe.

The 32 teams are split into four groups of eight, with four English sides and four European sides in each group.

Palace will play each of their four European opponents once, with all group-stage fixtures taking place in England. The Young Eagles will not face the other three English teams in their group.

The top two sides from each group progress to the quarter-finals, with the knockout stages decided over one leg. Extra-time and penalties will be used if required.

This is Palace’s sixth appearance in the competition, having lifted the trophy in 23/24 after finishing runners-up in their first campaign in 22/23.

The Young Eagles have been drawn in Group D this season, with PSG, PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht and Porto standing between Darren Powell’s side and another run at the trophy.

PSG

The French giants were named France’s best academy for 25/26 by the French Football Federation, continuing a remarkable record of developing players for the highest level.

Ten PSG academy graduates have featured for the club’s first team, while 12 have played in the UEFA Champions League and more than 20 have received call-ups to France’s youth teams.

The club’s academy has also produced more than 30 players aged under 23 who are now under professional contract with clubs in the top two divisions of Europe’s top 10 leagues.

PSG’s Espoirs have already faced English opposition this season, beating Manchester City 1-0 in pre-season.

They finished fourth in their group last season, despite making an excellent start.

A 2-0 win over Newcastle United and 3-1 victory against Chelsea put PSG in a strong position, but draws against Brighton & Hove Albion and defeat to Nottingham Forest ultimately ended their hopes of progressing.

They’ll be hoping to go further this time around!

One to watch: Fabio Domingos. The Luxembourg-born winger joined PSG from Metz in 2025 and has represented Luxembourg at youth level and Cape Verde at senior level.

Domingos featured for PSG’s U19s last season as they won the Championnat National U19 title for a third successive year, and has since continued his development with the Espoirs.

Match Details

Palace U21s v PSG U21s

Wednesday, 2nd September
KO: 19:00 BST
The Borough Sports Ground
Premier League International Cup
Watch LIVE on Palace TV+!

Subscribe to Palace TV+

RSC Anderlecht

RSC Anderlecht’s academy has produced a host of household names, including Jérémy Doku, Romelu Lukaku and Vincent Kompany, as well as Belgian legends Paul Van Himst and Jef Mermans.

Their reserve side, RSCA Futures, compete in the Challenger Pro League – Belgium’s second tier – alongside professional and other reserve sides.

Anderlecht made their Premier League International Cup debut in 24/25, becoming the first Belgian club to enter the competition in nine years.

Palace came out on top when the sides met in the group stages that season, with Zach Marsh, Mofe Jemide and Jemiah Umolu all on target in a 3-1 victory for the Young Eagles.

One to watch: Nunzio Engwanda. The 18-year-old centre-back has already made first-team appearances in the Belgian Pro League and has become a regular for RSCA Futures.

Match Details

Palace U21s v RSC Anderlecht U21s

Wednesday, 14th October
KO: 19:00 BST
The Borough Sports Ground
Premier League International Cup
Stream details to be confirmed

PSV Eindhoven

Next up is a familiar face: PSV Eindhoven. One of Dutch football’s giants, PSV have enjoyed remarkable success in recent seasons, winning three successive Eredivisie titles.

They have been crowned Dutch champions 27 times and have a long-standing reputation for producing top-level talent, making Jong PSV another intriguing test for the Young Eagles.

Palace and Jong PSV have plenty of history in this competition. The Dutch side edged a dramatic 22/23 final after 120 minutes before winning on penalties, but the Young Eagles got their revenge the following season.

In front of more than 2,000 supporters at Selhurst Park, Franco Umeh’s deflected second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory and handed Palace their first Premier League International Cup title.

Jong PSV have already begun this season’s competition too, drawing 1-1 with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

One to watch: Keziah Ogene. The 18-year-old attacker recently joined PSV from Eintracht Frankfurt and caught the eye against Sunderland, producing an acrobatic finish in the 1-1 draw.

Match Details

Palace U21s v PSV Eindhoven U21s

Tuesday, 19th January
KO: 19:00 BST
The Borough Sports Ground
Premier League International Cup
Stream details to be confirmed

FC Porto

FC Porto are one of Portugal’s biggest clubs and have won more than 30 league titles, alongside a glittering collection of domestic and European honours.

Their B team - who could conclude Palace's 26/27 International Cup group-stage - compete in Liga Portugal 2 and have a unique place in Portuguese football history, having become the first reserve side to win the second tier.

Porto B are also no strangers to this competition. They are the record winners of the International Cup, lifting the trophy in 16/17 and 17/18.

With another European heavyweight waiting in the final group fixture, Palace will face a serious test from start to finish.

One to watch: Tiago Andrade. The winger joined Porto as an Under-15 player and has progressed through the club’s academy to the B team.

Andrade has already been involved around Porto’s first team and has made an impact at the start of the new campaign.

The date for Palace’s meeting with Porto will be released in due course. Ticketing and broadcast details for the confirmed fixtures, meanwhile, will be announced separately.

Related News

More News

All you need to know about the International Cup

Academy

4 hours ago

The Premier League International Cup

Fancy a taste of European football without leaving England? The Premier League International Cup is back!

The competition pits the top 16 sides from last season’s Premier League 2 against 16 invited clubs from across Europe.

The 32 teams are split into four groups of eight, with four English sides and four European sides in each group.

Palace will play each of their four European opponents once, with all group-stage fixtures taking place in England. The Young Eagles will not face the other three English teams in their group.

The top two sides from each group progress to the quarter-finals, with the knockout stages decided over one leg. Extra-time and penalties will be used if required.

This is Palace’s sixth appearance in the competition, having lifted the trophy in 23/24 after finishing runners-up in their first campaign in 22/23.

The Young Eagles have been drawn in Group D this season, with PSG, PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht and Porto standing between Darren Powell’s side and another run at the trophy.

PSG

The French giants were named France’s best academy for 25/26 by the French Football Federation, continuing a remarkable record of developing players for the highest level.

Ten PSG academy graduates have featured for the club’s first team, while 12 have played in the UEFA Champions League and more than 20 have received call-ups to France’s youth teams.

The club’s academy has also produced more than 30 players aged under 23 who are now under professional contract with clubs in the top two divisions of Europe’s top 10 leagues.

PSG’s Espoirs have already faced English opposition this season, beating Manchester City 1-0 in pre-season.

They finished fourth in their group last season, despite making an excellent start.

They’ll be hoping to go further this time around!

One to watch: Fabio Domingos. The Luxembourg-born winger joined PSG from Metz in 2025 and has represented Luxembourg at youth level and Cape Verde at senior level.

Domingos featured for PSG’s U19s last season as they won the Championnat National U19 title for a third successive year, and has since continued his development with the Espoirs.

Match Details

Palace U21s v PSG U21s

Wednesday, 2nd September
KO: 19:00 BST
The Borough Sports Ground
Premier League International Cup
Watch LIVE on Palace TV+!

Subscribe to Palace TV+

RSC Anderlecht

RSC Anderlecht’s academy has produced a host of household names, including Jérémy Doku, Romelu Lukaku and Vincent Kompany, as well as Belgian legends Paul Van Himst and Jef Mermans.

Their reserve side, RSCA Futures, compete in the Challenger Pro League – Belgium’s second tier – alongside professional and other reserve sides.

Anderlecht made their Premier League International Cup debut in 24/25, becoming the first Belgian club to enter the competition in nine years.

Palace came out on top when the sides met in the group stages that season, with Zach Marsh, Mofe Jemide and Jemiah Umolu all on target in a 3-1 victory for the Young Eagles.

One to watch: Nunzio Engwanda. The 18-year-old centre-back has already made first-team appearances in the Belgian Pro League and has become a regular for RSCA Futures.

Match Details

Palace U21s v RSC Anderlecht U21s

Wednesday, 14th October
KO: 19:00 BST
The Borough Sports Ground
Premier League International Cup
Stream details to be confirmed

PSV Eindhoven

Next up is a familiar face: PSV Eindhoven. One of Dutch football’s giants, PSV have enjoyed remarkable success in recent seasons, winning three successive Eredivisie titles.

They have been crowned Dutch champions 27 times and have a long-standing reputation for producing top-level talent, making Jong PSV another intriguing test for the Young Eagles.

In front of more than 2,000 supporters at Selhurst Park, Franco Umeh’s deflected second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory and handed Palace their first Premier League International Cup title.

Jong PSV have already begun this season’s competition too, drawing 1-1 with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

One to watch: Keziah Ogene. The 18-year-old attacker recently joined PSV from Eintracht Frankfurt and caught the eye against Sunderland, producing an acrobatic finish in the 1-1 draw.

Match Details

Palace U21s v PSV Eindhoven U21s

Tuesday, 19th January
KO: 19:00 BST
The Borough Sports Ground
Premier League International Cup
Stream details to be confirmed

FC Porto

FC Porto are one of Portugal’s biggest clubs and have won more than 30 league titles, alongside a glittering collection of domestic and European honours.

Porto B are also no strangers to this competition. They are the record winners of the International Cup, lifting the trophy in 16/17 and 17/18.

With another European heavyweight waiting in the final group fixture, Palace will face a serious test from start to finish.

One to watch: Tiago Andrade. The winger joined Porto as an Under-15 player and has progressed through the club’s academy to the B team.

Andrade has already been involved around Porto’s first team and has made an impact at the start of the new campaign.

The date for Palace’s meeting with Porto will be released in due course. Ticketing and broadcast details for the confirmed fixtures, meanwhile, will be announced separately.

Related News

More News